Crane blaze on busy A1

The carriageway was closed in both directions after the vehicle caught fire near the TK Diner at around 6.30pm.

Flames were already bellowing from the crane when the vehicle exploded, sending a wheel flying to the other side of the carriageway with such force that it was embedded in a grassy bank.

The driver of the vehicle and other passing motorists were unharmed, but the crane's wheel was reported to have missed a car with two female passengers by mere feet.

One witness, who was travelling along the A1 when the crane caught fire, said: "Firemen were just beginning to move people and cars out of the way to try and put the flames out and there was this ferocious boom, an almighty noise, as one of the wheels blew off and the crane exploded.

"It nearly hit a car on the other side of the road and the ferocity of the blast had actually shattered glass on the inside of that vehicle.

"People were shaken up but they were okay – I've never seen anything like it."

Vehicles travelling south were diverted along the Old Dromara Road, while police advised motorists to avoid the area completely if possible.

The citybound lane of the main A1 Belfast to Dublin Road at Hillsborough was reopened but one of the countrybound lanes towards Newry remained closed on Thursday morning.